Zimmerman says he was not pursuing Trayvon Martin
MIRAMAR, Fla. (AP) - In his first lengthy interview, George Zimmerman said he wanted to apologize to Trayvon Martin's parents for their son's death and insisted he was not in pursuit on the rainy night that he fatally shot the teenager.
When asked Wednesday by Fox News host Sean Hannity what he would tell the teen's parents, he said "I'm sorry," and that he would be open to talking to them about what happened the night of the shooting.
The teenager's father, Tracy Martin, said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press that he rejected a comment Zimmerman made about the events of that night being part of "God's plan."
"We must worship a different God. There is no way that my God wanted George Zimmerman to murder my teenage son," Tracy Martin said.
Zimmerman, 28, is charged with second-degree murder in the Feb. 26 death of the 17-year-old Martin, who was unarmed when he was killed in Sanford, about 20 miles north of Orlando.
Zimmerman claims Martin attacked him. He has pleaded not guilty, claiming self-defense.
When asked to explain what he meant when he told a police dispatcher he was following Martin, the neighborhood watch volunteer said he was trying to keep an eye on Martin to tell police. He said he was not following Martin but attempting to get a more precise address for the authorities.
Whether Zimmerman was the aggressor plays a major role in his self-defense claim. He said he wanted to see where the teen went so he could tell police where to go.
"I hadn't given them a correct address. I was going to give them the actual address," he said.
Zimmerman said after he got out of his car, Martin was next to him. Zimmerman says he looked down, then looked up and Martin punched him and broke his nose. Then, he said, Martin straddled him and started slamming his head onto a concrete sidewalk.
"He started bashing my head into the concrete sidewalk. I was disoriented," Zimmerman said, adding that it was at that point he began to fear for his life - another key element in his self-defense claim.
He says as the two were struggling, Martin said "you're going to die tonight."
Zimmerman also said racial profiling had nothing to do with the confrontation.
"I'm not a racist and I'm not a murderer," he said.
When asked Wednesday by Fox News host Sean Hannity what he would tell the teen's parents, he said "I'm sorry," and that he would be open to talking to them about what happened the night of the shooting.
The teenager's father, Tracy Martin, said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press that he rejected a comment Zimmerman made about the events of that night being part of "God's plan."
"We must worship a different God. There is no way that my God wanted George Zimmerman to murder my teenage son," Tracy Martin said.
Zimmerman, 28, is charged with second-degree murder in the Feb. 26 death of the 17-year-old Martin, who was unarmed when he was killed in Sanford, about 20 miles north of Orlando.
Zimmerman claims Martin attacked him. He has pleaded not guilty, claiming self-defense.
When asked to explain what he meant when he told a police dispatcher he was following Martin, the neighborhood watch volunteer said he was trying to keep an eye on Martin to tell police. He said he was not following Martin but attempting to get a more precise address for the authorities.
Whether Zimmerman was the aggressor plays a major role in his self-defense claim. He said he wanted to see where the teen went so he could tell police where to go.
"I hadn't given them a correct address. I was going to give them the actual address," he said.
Zimmerman said after he got out of his car, Martin was next to him. Zimmerman says he looked down, then looked up and Martin punched him and broke his nose. Then, he said, Martin straddled him and started slamming his head onto a concrete sidewalk.
"He started bashing my head into the concrete sidewalk. I was disoriented," Zimmerman said, adding that it was at that point he began to fear for his life - another key element in his self-defense claim.
He says as the two were struggling, Martin said "you're going to die tonight."
Zimmerman also said racial profiling had nothing to do with the confrontation.
"I'm not a racist and I'm not a murderer," he said.
replies aren't working properly....
Zimmerman started a fight, started losing said fight, Shot Trayvon instead of taking the beating he deserved.
 @DarkParty how did he start the fight? trayvon hit him and george tried defending himself
 @DarkParty All evidence indicates that Martin attacked Zimmerman. Which means Martin chose poorly.
 @LockesChild What evidence? Zimmerman's story has changed a few times.
Lack of injuries?
You mean, a gun shot wound?
Now go back and read your comment and see where it makes any kind of sense.
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 @LockesChild So old Georgie boy isn't as big of a bad ass as he thought?
 @DarkParty Injuries on Zimmerman, lack of similar injuries on Martin. The fact that a witness saw Martin on top of ZImmerman beating on him. Those facts.
How did he start a fight by following and observing him? I've done that in my neighborhood and I wasn't looking for a fight.
 @oledawg He started the fight by refusing to follow the directions of the 9-1-1 operator who told him to remain in his vehicle and NOT pursue the subject.
 @Glassman Even after all this time that has to be one of the dumbest comments on this entire tragedy. 911 operators do not give orders. This 911 operator did not order him to remain in the car and did not order Zimmerman to stop following Martin as Martin skulked around the units. Regardless, following Martin was not justification for assault in any sane mind.
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Martin made a poor decision to assault Zimmerman and try to take Zimmerman's pisto. Martin paid for that poor decision with his life. Maybe some other young man will learn from this bad choice.
You wouldn't mind someone following you?Â
No, happens in my neighborhood. Whether it's a cautious resident, a neighborhood watch volunteer, or a police officer, I have never turned and felt the need to attack the person or defend myself being followed.
 @oledawg Nobody but him knows how he started it, But saying something along the lines of "I'm the neighborhood watch captain, Can I ask what your doing here?" would have cooled the situation right off.
 @takingamericaback  @LockesChild He had a school record, where is his criminal record?
 @LockesChild Talk about making up your own facts, You must be the one with video.
 @DarkParty You know that how? Video cameras? Zimmerman called 911 when he saw Martin creeping around and looking in windows. Did Martin call 911? No, because burglar wanna-be's tend not to call the police.
 @>T H I S<  @LockesChild Always easy to tell when someone has run out of anything worthwhile to say--they reach for that tired old racism card.
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 @>T H I S<  @LockesChild y do you bring race into this nobody else has
 @DarkParty  @LockesChild because he was a punk that had already had a criminal record maybe
@LockesChild And since he shot a black kid, you do not care if he is guilty or not, do you?
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 @LockesChild He was walking home on his cellphone, Holly crap, I creep around all the time!
 @DarkParty If Martin were creeping around and considering burglary as well as being a punk in training then that would be a good reason. And if you jump people who is merely following you then you might end up the same way as Martin.
 @LockesChild Why would Trayvon attack him if not provoked? Some weird guy keeps following me? I'm going to think the worst and if I can do anything to protect myself, I will!
 @DarkParty So no one knows if Zimmerman started it. Therefore there is no proof that he did start the confrontation. Since in the USA Zimmerman is innocent until proven guilty, it sounds like Zimmerman will walk.
 @DarkParty Exactly! :-)
""We must worship a different God. There is no way that my God wanted George Zimmerman to murder my teenage son," Tracy Martin said"
Probably true - Mr Martin, the god you worship seems to be the god of divisiveness, rascism, government and money.
@mtnhiker Oh look... Projection at its finest.Â
"There is no way that my God wanted George Zimmerman to murder my teenage son," Tracy Martin said."
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So true, because from all evidence George Zimmerman didn't murder Trayvon Martin. He was defending himself.
If by evidence you mean "Zimmeran's side of the story" then sure.
I mean, you seem like a confirmation bias kind of guy
 @>T H I S< Physical evidence, witness reports, Martin's history as a burglar and thug wanna-be, Zimmerman's call to 911, Martin not going back to his home.Â
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Yeah, no evidence there.
We currently have a spike in violent crimes in Seattle. Citizens are being asked to be more proactive in their communities and report criminal activity they believe could be occurring. Neighborhood watch groups are becoming the norm as well as supported.  There are neighborhood ânight outâ events that are coordinated by neighborhood groups and government where citizens walk around and attempt to deter criminals. People seem to support this as they are âtaking our neighborhood backâ. During these walks someone may even follow behind and watch a suspicious person while calling the police.  Last I checked there was no expectation to privacy in public and this would not be illegal. If so a few questions:  If a police dispatcher suggests that you stop following and watching this individual and you do not is it now illegal? If you do not stop following and you are attacked by the individual is there no right to self-defense since the dispatcher told you to stop? And if during the course of self-defense that individual is killed are you now a murderer?
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It seems to me that folks are out to condemn George Zimmerman without a trial. Unfortunately George Zimmerman is the only living witness to the events of that day. However, if he was in danger of great bodily injury or death from Trayvon Martin I would say his actions were justified⦠would you not?
 @eddy505 If you start losing a fight you started and kill the person you started the fight with, Is that self defense?
@DarkParty You are omitting so many factors here when you blanket a statement like that. Is losing a fight a grounds for deadly force? Well not by itself.  But first off you just concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman started the fight. Check...got that one out of the way for prosecutor and defense attorney. Second.. what does "losing a fight" mean to you? From what the media has released on this and Zimmerman had said I would say he articulated the threat of great bodily injury or death from Trayvon Martin while he was "losing the fight". If can not articulate that in court he may be found guilty of either 2nd degree murder or manslaugter.  Â
776.041âUse of force by aggressor
As I had said in my first post I have pointed out that there is no right to privacy in public. This would make Zimmerman's action of following Trayvon legal. Therefore a legal action of following would not make Zimmerman the primary aggressor as some on here speculate. And contrary to the belief of some you can defend your life if you feel you could be killed or suffer great bodily injury. Â Questions are being brought up of why didn't Zimmerman do this instead of that to diffuse the situation? The same questions could be asked of Martin. And it is very easy to Monday night quarterback any situation like this. I'm looking forward to seeing the outcome of this trial. If Zimmerman is found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt I welcome you to tell me "I told you so". But don't get upset if I do the same if he is found not guilty. Happy posting.
How self defense laws relate to the case? Gee I have no idea how that would relate to this case!
 @eddy505 Actually, under the SYG laws, in that scenario you describe, he would NOT be able to claim "self-defense".
 @eddy505  @DarkParty Perhaps the first thing you might "CITE" is how any of that relates to this case.
 @eddy505  @DarkParty IF Zimmerman HAD id'ed and explained himself, wouldn't it be a high probability that the fight might never have happened?
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It's dark and raining, M is walking home on a public street - and some unidentified guy NOT in uniform comes after him without a word of explanation...given the occurrence of things like we saw on the news today of the guy grabbing a girl in a wide open spot, how is it hard to accept that kind of scenario might have come to mind?
 @LockesChild A case can be made that Zimmerman's actions started it by making Martin think he was being followed by a pervert.
 @DarkParty Yeah, I didn't think you had anything. If Corey cannot either poison the jury or come up with a better story Zimmerman will go free--as he should
 @eddy505 Um, you might want to call paramedics, I think your having a stroke! Trayvon did run away, Z kept on him , and creepy dude kept stalking kid?????
@DarkParty @eddy505
First off...you're saying ryvon not have run away? Second Zimmerman was not doing anything illegal by following Trayvon.. Better look up the definition of stalking and send that to me as well with your other cites.
 @eddy505 No it does not, you story gives the other guy time to get away and be safe, Trayvon was defending himself from some unkown stalker, By your logic I can start a fight with Mike Tyson and realize I am loosing and might die so I can shoot him?
@DarkParty Sure it does.. you're saying that if Zimmerman started the fight, then he loses all rights to self defense if Trayvon trumps it up. ie...slams head on concrete, or reaches for a gun. I would still like to see your evidence of this law theory.Â
 @eddy505 Grasping at straws, that scenario doesn't even come close to this one.
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@DarkParty
So you are in a bar, some guy in the corner slaps your girlfriendâs backside and begins flirting with her. Â You give him a good pop in the face (a misdemeanor assault). The guy goes to his car and brings a gun in the bar, points it at you while stating, "You're gonna die tonight". Still can't use deadly force huh?? Please sight your references to your theory. I will be happy to sight mine if requested on when deadly force is authorized, period!
 @eddy505 He was on the phone with his girlfriend, so yeah we got his mindset, and Trayvon had no history of anything like attacking a random stranger. If George would have said who he was instead of acting like a creep following him why would he attack him? Zimmerman has attacked a cop. Why not a suspected kid up to no good? and you can not kill someone you started a fight with and claim self defense, period!
@DarkParty @eddy505
I just want to get this straight. So you're saying you knew the mindset of Trayvon Martin when Zimmerman was following him? You also know that if Zimmerman would have identified himself to Martin the entire incident would not have occurred? And we have another that knows beyond a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman "started the fight".  I just want to clear this up in case you have credible information that others on here do not.  You also have great insight into the use of force to defend yourself from possible death from another. Better get that one to the media quick because I believe 99.9 percent of the American population should be aware that they must just give in and die if someone is trying to kill them.
 @LockesChild Just because George didn't have any marks on his knuckles you think he's good to go? Take a swing at me and miss and I hit you back makes me the aggressor?
 @DarkParty Prove that Zimmerman started a fight. The prosecutors can't do it. I would love to see you do it.
 @eddy505 Zimmerman was freaking Trayvon out by following him, He did not identify himself as a watch member, He could have ended the altercation if he had. And if you start a fight and realize you can not win, It is still not self defense to kill the person you started the fight with even if you think you might die.
 @DarkParty Show that Zimmerman attacked Martin and you have a case. Until then, you have nothing.
 @eddy505 You point to Martin's "history" as somehow having a bearing on this case...those were school problems, did not involve the law...and yet seem to have missed or discounted Zimmerman's record - including domestic abuse AND assaulting a police officer (a charge that is on the record but somehow was "dropped" after apparent contact with his family...his father having been a "judge" and his mother working in the court system).
I think people are saying that the media is getting people like you worked up on old Z and tender on old Tray. and all the things you say about Z (and reported) are supressed and NOT reported on Tray swaying PUBLIC opinion to the media's left agenda. Proof in piont show a current picture of Tray.
 @BocaBob Really?
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Many here continually point to Martin's "history as a burglar and thug wanna-be", even bringing up the OTHER (as in not related) Trayvon Martin's FB page as "proof". And yet, how often is Zimmerman's history mentioned by these people?
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Never.
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They refuse to even admit is it part of the public record. Martin's "offenses" are school related, not part of a police history.
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Zimmerman's are.
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And what good would it be to show a photo of Martin's corpse? Not only would it be extremely offensive, it would accomplish NOTHING.
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The photos released were those the family chose to release - how is that a problem? The evidence of this case it that one man killed another man. What they looked like at the time is irreverent. The Z supporters always cry about the "race card", and yet THEY are the ones who make such a huge deal about the age of the Martin's son in the photos.
@OrcasThunderÂ
Where did I point out Martinâs âhistoryâ in my post? I donât believe either of their past history has any bearing on this case. I just notice everybody justifying Trayvonâs actions because âGetting jumped by Martin would not have happened if he had stayed in the car.â Iâm pointing out that what George did by following and reporting Trayvonâs actions isnât illegal. It happens every day by neighborhood watch groups. But posting comments such as you did makes it sounds like you acknowledge that Trayvon attacked Zimmeron, but that his attack was justified since Zimmerman followed him and didnât stay in his car as asked by a police dispatcher.  Â
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 @eddy505 Actually, I was responding to LockesChild's comment on Martin's "history as a burglar and thug wanna-be" comment...
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This new format is worse than the old one...and having the latest post at the top does not help!
 @eddy505 "It seems to me that folks are out to condemn George Zimmerman without a trial."
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And what, exactly, do you folks do when you talk about Trayvon Martin? You knee-jerk defend Zimmerman, totally discount ANYTHING that might point to Martin's not being the aggressor in this.
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One thing I would like George to explain is how Trayvon "sneaked up on him" in that open area shown in the video of his "explanation" to the police at the scene...which was apparently well enough lit for witnesses to see that one of them was Black, the other was Hispanic...? Is George that unobservant to his surroundings that he didn't hear/see Trayvon "rushing at him"?
 @eddy505 All physical evidence and witness reports indicate that Trayvon had attacked Zimmerman. The first prosecutor, chief of police, and lead detective all believed that Zimmerman was defending himself--or at least there was no legitimate criminal case.Â
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 @LockesChild What "witnesses" stated they actually SAW the start of the fight? Can you provide a link to these stories?
Well, ID just deleted a long comment I had finished - let me just state that there were apparently no witnesses to the actual start of the fight.
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And, while I do agree that the 2nd degree is a bit much, I also see it as a bargaining chip for the prosecution to get a lesser - perhaps manslaughter - plea just before the trial or during it.
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As to "slim" evidence, this interview is adding to the case - every time he makes a statement he is burning his chances...and to blame it on God is really a bad move on his part.
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It will end in a plea deal, he will take a lesser charge, and get a low sentence with time served.Â
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At the core of this is not his "intent", it is that he started a chain of events that led to him being where he is, and yet he still does not accept that if he had stayed in the car none of this would have happened.
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And a case CAN be made that Trayvon Martin was simply defending himself - in the environment he had just left to not respond to a stranger in the dark running at you, the only defense if an assertive one.
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And this shows the main problem with the SYG mentality - it assumes that one of the individuals is thinking rationally...in this case, neither was. Each was seeing the situation through a different viewfinder.
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 @alaska_dreamin He never does...
 @LockesChild Seeing someone on top is not seeing how it started. It only shows the situation at the time the witness noticed them.
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Plus, at least one witness stated the one on top was the one who got up after the shot was fired, and the one who talked to police when they got there.
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I suspect that person would have had to be Zimmerman...
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And actually, every time George speaks out he builds a case for the prosecution...they stated today that this latest interview is considered as evidence, and they will treat it as such.
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While, in the same time span, Trayvon Martin's story has not changed one bit...
 @LockesChild http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57460736-504083/christopher-serino-cop-who-said-george-zimmerman-should-be-charged-is-transferred-from-investigative-unit/
 @LockesChild I am not speculating at all, my statement that you did not give a direct answer to OrcasThunders question is an observable fact. Why you are continuing to make statements about whether Zimmerman attacked Martin to me, I don't understand. Not one of my comments to you had anything to do with who attacked who, they all referred to the fact that you didn't give a direct answer to the questions you were asked by OrcasThunder.
 @alaska_dreamin And I simply pointed out that there was no observation of how this fight began. There was no physical evidence that Zimmerman attacked Martin--no fist injuries--while there is plenty of evidence that Martin attacked Zimmerman. That really is the end of the real story. Speculate all you wish, but it still ends up that there is no case against Zimmerman. It sounds to me like a good shoot--which is how it sounded to the lead detective, police chief, and original prosecutor.
 @LockesChild So now you are resorting to name calling and capital letters to deflect from the fact that you did not answer the question that was originally asked. None of my comments to you have anything to do with who is innocent or who was guilty. I simply pointed out that you never actually directly answered the question that OrcasThunder asked you.
 @alaska_dreamin Innocent until PROVEN guilty, numbnuts.Â
 @LockesChild So you are confirming that you are not going to answer the actual question that OrcasThunder asked. Ok. Have a great day.
 @alaska_dreamin No witness saw the start of the fight, which i what I stated. As for all the other facts, they have been hashed out so many times that you can google it for yourself. Just avoid NBC and ABC--they have shown a tendency to doctor their news reports in this matter (as they themselves have admitted).
@LockesChild @OrcasThunder
I do not have knowledge whether there are witnesses to the start of the fight or not. I do however believe that the evidence in this case is slim against Zimmerman for a Murder charge (at least what is released to the public). For that to be so Prosecutors are saying that they have probable cause to believe that George Zimmerman had a mental state of intent to pursue and kill Trayvon Martin. Iâm just not seeing it (again with what is released in the media). I believe that these charges were only pursued because of the public outcry.
 @LockesChild I am not seeing where you responded to the question. OrcasThunder asked for specifics (which witnesses and can you provide links), and you gave vague generalizations.Â
 @OrcasThunder Witnesses saw Martin on top of Zimmerman beating on him. Zimmerman's injuries are consistent with that statement. Martin's injuries as well (just abrasion on Martin's knuckles).
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It is up to the prosecution to prove that Zimmerman attacked Martin. Since there is no evidence that Zimmerman did attack Martin, the prosecution has no case. Absent a poisoned jury, Zimmerman will very likely be acquitted.